Randle scores 39 to lift Bears atop Pac-10

CAL 93, WASH. ST. 88

Published 4:00 am, Friday, January 15, 2010

For the four seniors in Cal's starting lineup, the farewell tour of the Pac-10 started Thursday night in Pullman in pretty ridiculous fashion.

The Bears, who led 28-8 eight minutes in, hit 13 of their first 16 shots, including six of seven three-pointers.

And they led Washington State by only four points at halftime.

Luckily for Cal, Jerome Randle was just getting started. The senior point guard, who had all nine of his assists in the first half, scored 28 of his career-high 39 points in the second half as the Bears earned a 93-88 win.

"Coach told us that the seniors needed to step up, and I took that challenge," Randle said.

Cal (11-5, 3-1) took sole possession of the conference lead, while Washington State fell to 12-5, 2-3.

"We shot the ball very well early," said coach Mike Montgomery, who had the Bears do different things off screens to catch the Cougars off guard. "A road win is huge in this league."

Photo: Dean Hare, AP

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California guard Jerome Randale (3) drives to the basket as he is fouled by Washington State guard Reggie Moore, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Wash. Randle had a career high 39 points to pace California's 93-88 victory. less

California guard Jerome Randale (3) drives to the basket as he is fouled by Washington State guard Reggie Moore, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at Beasley ... more

Photo: Dean Hare, AP

Randle scores 39 to lift Bears atop Pac-10

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Randle, who played every minute of the game, gave the Bears the cushion they needed midway through the second half when he scored nine points in a span of 1:52 to put Cal ahead 76-62 with 7:12 left. He hit two three-pointers in transition and then three free throws after getting fouled.

"I don't think anybody can stop us in transition," said Randle, whose 39 points is the most by a Cal player since Leon Powe scored 41 on March 10, 2006.

Washington State starts four sophomores and one freshman, and has only one upperclassman on the roster. And the Cougars looked like boys against men in the first 10 minutes.

Up 4-3, the Bears buried four straight three-pointers - two by Randle, one by Robertson and one by Christopher that made it 16-3 - and six overall (two more by Robertson) in the next 3:54 to take a 26-8 lead with 13:27 left.

Boykin's 15-footer about 3 1/2 minutes later was Cal's 13th field goal in 16 attempts, but the Bears were not going to keep shooting 81 percent. And the Bears weren't doing any work inside offensively (zero first-half free throws).

Just like that, Cal missed 11 of its next 14 shots while Washington State made 11 of its next 16.

A 16-4 Cougars run highlighted by Reggie Moore's three cut the deficit to 32-24, and another Moore three capped the half to make it 41-37.

"They circled the wagons, and they became the aggressor," Montgomery said.

Moore, a freshman point guard recruited by Cal, finished with 25 points.

Briefly: Cal center Markhuri Sanders-Frison was out with back spasms, so Boykin moved to the middle and forward Omondi Amoke got his first start at Cal. ... Freshman forward Bak Bak did not make the trip due to a question about his eligibility that is being evaluated.